Tag: gift

The Gift of Going Away: Homily for the Ascension 2024

Posted on by Father Albert
Solemnity of the Ascension, B                                                                                   May 12, 2024Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/bORFb1E3u2M St. Paul tells us that Jesus “ascended on high; he gave gifts to men.” What gifts? The power of the Holy Spirit to become witnesses of Jesus to the whole world. Power for exorcisms, healings, miraculous communications and survival. And not just to the Apostles long ago. To this day, these signs happen throughout the world in conjunction with the proclamation of the gospel by laity and clergy alike. Neither does this power to bear witness only come in...Read More

What Is Chosen: Homily for the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time

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28th Sunday of Ordinary Time, A                                                                   October 15, 2023Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/dFZ1EfAg8as Beating the messengers again! Just last week Jesus told us about people who killed the messengers rather than pay their rent. I offered the hypothetical explanation that the tenants of the vineyard had no fruit to give, so they responded to their shame and fear by killing whoever threatened to expose it. Indeed, we often respond to God in the same way – lashing out whenever he dares to touch on our sins, wounds, and weaknesses. Afraid of how demanding God...Read More

Homily for the Epiphany: Real Power

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Epiphany                                                                                                         January 8, 2023Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/sP2csL942zA Who has the power? In the wake of tense battles over important positions, we might wonder what real power looks like. Majority votes, political concessions, making other people do what you want… all these are a part of how we tend to imagine power. Yet, a careful reading of the scripture ought to challenge us to think more deeply about it. Who, after all, has the real power in the story of these Magi? Herod is a king backed by the power of the...Read More

Homily for Epiphany: How to Give

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Epiphany, Year A                                                                                           January 3, 2021Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/NBtzeX79l0c What do I get for the God who gave me everything? This was the question we asked on Christmas day. The answer was to get him the most valuable, thoughtful, practical, and liberating gift we could – ourselves. That’s “what” we give, but now we wonder “how?” While we give gifts on Christmas day, many other cultures wait until today’s feast, the Epiphany, to make that exchange. So, it’s a fitting day to answer this question by looking how the Magi give...Read More

Homily for Christmas: What Should I Get Him?

Posted on by Father Albert
Christmas                                                                                                        December 25, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/gns-hSBBzXE What should I get them? Especially after a year like 2020, we’ve all asked this question countless times these past few months. What kind of gift is the best thing to give to my loved ones? How best to convey the love and hope they most need to receive? What makes for a good gift? Expensive? Thoughtful? Practical? Helpful? Like most children, as a kid I often thought the most expensive gifts were the best. The Playstation 2… the new computer – knowing...Read More